The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Original "Plunger" style mechanical starter linkage ?

Do any of you have a photo of an original plunger starter linkage on a 55-59 truck?

I am planning on running this on my truck. I have a 48, but with a 56 235 in it. I have a 55-59 bellhousing and thought this linkage bolted to it, but I can't for the life of me figure it out. There is no place for it to bolt.

Is the linkage the same 47-59, that is how I bought the set up I have.

Any photos or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

Brian

I have 2 bellhousing, one from a 1959, 261 engine. The other one in from a 1953, 235 engine. The bell housings look exactly the same.

Hmm, how about this linkage, where the heck does it mount? I looked at the cross member, the floor, is there something I am missing?

Brian

MARTINSR,

Here is a picture...not the best though!

http://chevy.tocmp.com/1929_54chevyparts/02/139.HTM

Stuart

Thanks Stuart, but I can't make out where the darn thing bolts on to. It looks like the top of the bell housing, but I didn't see where this would be on mine. I have the bell housing stuck under a shelf in the dark, I was just on my hands and knees looking at it. Maybe I should pull the fool thing out and take a better look?

Here is what I have. I can't figure out where the two bolts on each side bold.

Brian

picture

Something in the picture doesn't seem right. The starter should be on the right side of the engine and the stomper is slightly toward the drivers side from it. Something looks backwards in the pix!

Stuart

I'm going to go out on a limb on this one...I don't think this is for a Stovebolt. As was mentioned in another thread today, slap me if I'm wrong.

Stuart

The foot stomp part is in backwards is all.

The two bolts on each side bolt to the top of the bellhousing. Hope this helps.

Martins is the correct one, just has the pedal part in from the wrong face as shipwright sez, should be pointing at the floor in that pic

Martin, not great pics cuz of the location, but here's the drivers side , and the passenger side - note there's 2 small pads that should have the bolt holes

Bill

HEY, that's no fair...pix trix! Should I consider myself 'slapped'! :p


Stuart

There is a flat spot on top of each side of the bellhousing with 2 threaded holes. The "straps" bolt to that with the bolts coming down through the top. I've seen some bellhousings that don't have holes drilled there- like the one that came with my '62 261 with hydraulic clutch. If you don't have the right housing there won't be a spot to bolt the pivot points.

Brian, hopefully these will help.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s161/Rick_53/MVC-031S.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s161/Rick_53/Starter.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s161/Rick_53/IMG_2422.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s161/Rick_53/IMG_2421.jpg

Rick

Brian, by the way, the linkage set-up in your picture is the same as what I have for my '53. The bellhousing photo I posted shows the top where the linkage bolts on. This bellhousing was originally on a '55 235 and I used the same one on the '61 235 block I now have installed in the truck. The foot pedal starter comes unscrewed from the linkage and goes through the floorboard from inside the cab, then screws back onto the linkage. The linkage lies on top of the bellhousing. The photos don't show it real well, but I think you can see enough to figure it out. Rick

Thank you so much guys, Rick, you went above and beyond the call of duty guy, THANKS.

I'll be damned if the bell housing I got was advertised as 55-59 but it doesn't have those bosses for the linkage to bolt to!!! CRAP.

I think the guy will work with me, I also bought the linkage from him. CRAP!

Thanks to all, Brian

Glad to help, Brian, but sorry to hear it isn't working out with the bellhousing. Hope the guy makes it right with you. Good luck.

Brian,i see you already have your answer.I'm posting a picture of a 1954 bellhousing from a 1954 261 engine.
1954 bellhousing

Brian - maybe you got a V8 bellhouse, they don't have the foor start, any that fit 216, 235, 261 should have provision for the foot start

Bill

No, I'll tell you what I have is a car bell housing. They used the electric start from 53 on from what I understand (and remember). My bell housing looks exactly like the one Tim posted (thanks time) but without the bosses for the linkage.

The guy I bought it from says he'll see if he has the right one for me and we'll swap.

Now, I wonder if the armature I got is going to work. When I started this project I hadn't even thought of using the plunger starter. All I knew is I wanted the 55-59 bell housing to put my 56 235 in my 48 truck. All I need is the 55-59 car starter and there it is. So I bought a starter and what was advertised as an NOS 57-62 armature. I bought it thinking it was what I needed for the starter. But now I am not so sure. And I wonder if that wasn't a waste. NOS parts are never too much of a waste as I can always sell it. But I'll have to properly identify it.

Brian

Make sure you get the right bellhousing you need.The rear mounts are different on certain years.On my 1951 they bolt to the side of the bellhousing.The 1954 bellhousing is beveled where the mounts bolt up.Do a search on bellhousings.I don't know how it will effect your "1948" install using the 55-59 bellhousing.

I'm sure someone will step in anytime and explain.

Thanks for all your help, I got the right housing, the right linkage and I am on my way, THANKS for setting me straight.

I have a new quest, but will start a new thread.

Brian

For all your needs http://chevy.tocmp.com/1955truck2shop/55ctsm06y01.htm

I love those guys, although I'm wasting hours going through them all

You also need to make sure you have the right bell housing for your transmission. The 3 speed has a pin sticking out on the top drivers side for the swing mechanism for the shifter.

I made the mistake of buying one without this pin. I got mad not only because I could not use it but because I carried it around while at a swap meet. Now I take a wagon. Anyway, I think the ones without this pin are for use with a 4 speed transmission. Or maybe an automatic.

Interesting post, turns out the bell housing off my 270 has the holes drilled & tapped for this part. Would make an interesting conversion anyway.